Tunisia protesters mark fifth year of Saied emergency rule
In Tunisia, thousands marched in Tunis on Saturday demanding President Kais Saied resign, five years after he seized emergency powers on 25 July 2021. Crowds denounced democratic backsliding, a struggling economy and deadly heatwave blackouts as the country marks the anniversary of rule by decree.
Key Takeaways
- Thousands marched down Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis on 25 July 2026 calling for Saied to leave.
- The anniversary marks five years since Saied suspended parliament and began ruling by decree.
- Young doctors reported 150–200 deaths linked to more than a week of blackouts; authorities have not confirmed the toll.
- Opponents say emergency powers reversed post-2011 democratic gains; Saied denies rights have been curtailed.
Why are Tunisians protesting against Saied now?
Crowds set out from Republic Square toward the Municipal Theatre, carrying flags and banners rejecting Saied’s “July 25 path.” Demonstrators chanted for “freedom, work and national dignity,” called for Saied to “leave,” and revived the cry “the people want the fall of the regime.”
The call came from Nafas, an umbrella of opposition parties and independents. Wissam Sghaier of the Jomhouri party told Al Jazeera protesters aimed to hold the system to account. Many also demanded the release of political prisoners jailed since the emergency takeover.
Ennahdha spokesman Imed al-Khamiri said anger now reaches beyond party bases to citizens frustrated by the economy and public services. For related BlasterPost coverage beyond politics, see Future Tech & AI Wonders.
What happened on 25 July 2021 in Tunisia?
On that date—also Tunisia’s Republic Day—Saied invoked Article 80 of the 2014 constitution, froze parliament, dismissed Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi and assumed executive authority. He later dissolved parliament, governed by decree and backed a 2022 constitution that expanded presidential power.
Since then, critics say dozens of judges were dismissed and opposition figures and journalists arrested. Among those jailed is 85-year-old former parliament speaker Rached Ghannouchi, sentenced in June to life plus 30 years on terrorism charges. Saied says his measures tackle corruption and prevent chaos.
How severe is Tunisia’s blackout crisis?
As the anniversary arrived, Tunisia faced an exceptional heatwave and power cuts lasting more than a week. The Organisation of Young Doctors in Tunisia reported between 150 and 200 deaths; the government has not confirmed those figures. Local media earlier linked at least five deaths to outages that stopped home medical equipment.
STEG, the state utility, blamed record demand of about 6,000 megawatts and called controlled outages preventive. Saied said the pace of cuts was “not normal” and that those responsible must “assume their responsibility,” without announcing specific measures. Unemployment stood at 15% in early 2026, while inflation has exceeded 5% this year.